Trump

CHARLOTTE, NC: November 13, 2016. News of Donald Trump's election win has prompted continued comment from all parts of the political spectrum as to what this means for America and the rest of the world.

However until the TV personality is inaugurated on January 20, 2017 it's all speculation. Assuming America still operates a working democracy, what someone says to get elected is often ignored, diluted or denied once the reality of the office sets in.

So for India, China, Iran, Russia or Turkey, past pronouncements from the next U.S. president may not have much impact on their future trading relationships with each other.

In a non-interventionist, laissez-faire Trump government, the Eurasian Economic Union, sponsored by the Russian Federation, or China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative, could flourish as rail, road and air services improve between China and Europe, China and Iran, or between Russia and India.

For these nations, and others, the next two months will provide a useful hiatus before deciding whether Trump will make 2017 a year of increased cooperation, confusion - or confrontation.

- Simon Keeble is the editorial director of HU Digital Media, publisher of Freightweek.org and Freighteurasia.com